California bulrush
Schoenoplectus californicus · Aquatic plants
A stand of it · Photo: Felipe Horton / CC BY
Also called Scirpus californicus, Giant bulrush, Tule
How to identify California bulrush
- Very tall, round to bluntly triangular stems up to 12 feet
- Stems firm, gray green
- Large, drooping, branched flower clusters near the top
- Grows from thick rhizomes
Similar plants
Hardstem bulrush has smaller, tighter flower clusters and rounder stems; softstem bulrush stems crush easily.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Shoots emerge in spring, flowers in summer, stems persist into winter and rhizomes overwinter. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 55 F water; full sun |
| Light | Needs full sun |
| Depth | Shoreline to about 6 feet of water |
| How it spreads | Rhizomes and seeds |
| Habitat | Shallow to moderately deep marshes and lake margins in mild climates. |
Why it matters in a lake
Very rare in the region, at the northern edge of its range. Dense stands provide shoreline protection and bird habitat.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Rare
- Oregon: Rare
- Wyoming: Not recorded
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Cyperaceae |
| Scientific name | Schoenoplectus californicus |
Broadleaf cattail
Hardstem bulrush
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Purple loosestrife
Soft rush
Yellow flag iris
Broadleaf arrowhead
Western water hemlock
Beaked sedge
Baltic rushNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
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